A thief who broke into a Moray petrol station to steal a charity tin and wine has been given three months to clean up his act – or he will be sent to jail.
Stewart Newlands smashed his way into a Forres garage just hours after shoplifting from the same venue.
The 35-year-old lifted a lifeboat donation box and three bottles of wine before fleeing and leaving his blood smeared on the door.
He appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court last week to face punishment, but sentencing was delayed so that a doctor could advise on whether he is fit enough to perform unpaid work.
When he returned to the dock yesterday, his solicitor advised that Newlands would be able to carry out a limited amount of labour.
Stephen Carty said: “He would be fit to work, if not every day.
“My client could manage two days a week, perhaps, but the real question is whether he would be sober when he turns up.”
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov deferred sentence for three months, ordering Newlands to deal with his drinking in that time.
She told him: “If you make progress then I will impose a sentence of unpaid work, if you do not then I will be sentencing you to imprisonment.”
Staff at the garage became suspicious when Newlands first entered the store shortly before 10pm on March 23.
The court heard he picked up four tins of beer and two bottles of cider, then left without paying.
Newlands then broke into the store at 1am, setting off the alarm – which alerted staff, who called the police.
The court heard he stole £31 worth of goods in the first incident, £137 from the break-in and caused £340 of damage to the shop.
Newlands, of Fleurs Road in Forres, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft at the Esso filling station on Nairn Road in Forres on March 23 and March 24.
Mr Carty said his client was “ashamed” of his actions.
